Postmarking aid stamp canceling machine



(No Model.)

\ 9 SheetsSheet 1. W. GROTH; POSTMARKING AND STAMP GANGELING MACHINE.No. 472,497. Patented Apr 5,1892.

(No Model.) 9 Sheets-Shet W. GROTH.

POSTMARKING AND STAMP OANOELING MACHINE.

Patented Apr.5,1892.

(No Model.) I 9 Sheets-Sheet 3.

, W. GRQTH. POSTMARKING AND STAMP GANGELING MACHINE.

No. 472,497. Patented Apr. 5, 1892.

(No Model.)

W. GROTH.

9 Sheets-Sheet POSTMARKING AND STAMP GANGBLING MACHINE.

PatentedApr. 5, 1892.

( -J 9 Sheets-Sheet 5.

W. GROTH.

POSTIMARKING AND STAMP GANGELING MACHINE. No. 472,497. I PatentedApr.5,1892.

li'waz 1,60 1' (No Model.) 9 Sheets-Sheet 6.

W GRQTH. 7 POSTMARKI-NG AND STAMP GANGELING MACHINE.

No. 472,497. Patented A r. 5, 1892.

"(No Model.) 9 Sheets-Sheet 7.

W. GROTH.

POBTMARKING AND STAMP GANGELING MACHINE.

M W; Patented Apr 5, 1892,

wg m $032M 9 Sheet-Eheem 8;

(N0 Model.)

W GROTH POSTMARKI'NG AND 'EAMP G-ANGELING MACHINE.

No; 472 491 Fatented Apr. 5 1892;

MWWJW 9 Shees-Sheet 9.

(No Model.)

. W GROTH. POSTMARKING AND STAMP GANGELING MACHINE:

No. 472,497. Patented Apr. 5, 1892 UNITED. STATES retest WILLIAM GROTH,OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, ASSIGN OR OF FIVE-SIXTH TO THOMAS S.CONSTANTINE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

POSTMARKING AND Sm OACEMNG ACHIINE.

SPECIFICATION formic: pm?- of Letters Patent No. 472.497, April 5, 1892.

Application iiiod January 5, 1891.

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM GROTH, a citizen oi the United States,residing at Seattle, in the county of King and State of Washington, haveinvented certain new and useful Iniprovements in Postmarking andStamp-Qanceling Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertaius to make and use thesame.

In a patent granted to me January 7, 1890, No. 419,014, for postmarkingand stamp-canceling machines I have described, shown, and claimedcertain novel parts and combinations of parts wherein a pneumatic deviceis operated in a. way to take up letters from separate packages andcarry them by a free over movement to and deposit them by a verticaldrop upon an intermittentiyrmoving endless apron at the point where theyare to receive the dating and canceling impression. For such operationthe organization of the machine,as shown in said patent,embraced,amongother things, a series ofcompartments for containing separate anddistinct packages of letters, a stamping and canceling device having itsimpressingstamps arranged separately in regist ring relation to saidseparate lettercontaining compartments, an intermittentlyoperatingpneumatic letter-transferring device having suction-tuii0s incorrelative arrangement and number with the letter-containingcompartments and the stamping and canceling devices, and anintermittently-operating endless apron for conveying the lettern inseparate and distinct parallel lines from the stamping and cancelingdevice. In such organization it will be seen that the capacity of themachine for the needs of the postal service is determined by the numberof the stamps and their co-operating devices which may be used. It willalso be seen that the operation of the said patented machinerequiresthat all the letter-containing compartments must be keptsupplied with letters to be taken up and carried to receive theimpression oi! the stamps in order to prevent inking the apron by thestamps, and that in the event of the non-supply or the giving out ofsuch snpplycl' anyone or more of thecom Serial no. 876.782- (Wo model.)

partments the stamp or stamps registering with such compartment orcompartments having no letters would make an impression on and thusdeposit ink upon the surface of the apron, inasmuch as all the stampsoperate in such patented machine whether there be let ters to receivetheir impression or not. This inking of the apron was foundobjectionable, because letters which were subsequently deposited uponthe inked apron would thereby be smeared with the ink under the actionof the stamps.

The object of my present invention is to render it unnecessary to supplyall the compartments with letters and to provide for rendering suchstamp or stamps of the series as may not be supplied with a letter toreceive its impression shunted out as to its stamping function whiledescending upon the apron, and thus prevent it from being carried incontact with the apron, while at the same time not interfering with thestamping function of the stamps which may be supplied with letters inthe operation of the machine or with the operation of the device whichcarries all the stamps. In effecting these results I provide forshunting or cutting out any one or more of the series of stamps fromaction during the continu ous operation of the machine and of thecontinuous function of the stamp operating mechanism, whereby such stampor stamps as may not be supplied with letters to receive the impressionswill be prevented from touching the apron, while the stamp-carryingdevice is not interrupted in its regular move ment toward the apron. Forefiecting this operation I provide each stamp proper of; the series witha. rook-shaft crank devicepwhic'h under the descending movement of thestem is caused to strike and pr hard upon the immovable apromwhich, notyielding under such pressure, serves to arrest the descent of the stampproper, so it cannot come down on the apron when no letter has beenplaced under the stamp. For this purpose the apron must be at astandstill and the stampcarrier must fully descend for the proper actionof the other stamps, and as the movement of the other apron is not tocarry the letters to the stamps it is thereforetimed to be withoutmovement while the letters are being stamped upon the apron, so that thelatter serves as a fixed base to resist the downward preseurenf thecranked device caused by the descent of stamp i elf. in this way eachstamp is pro vidcrl with its own shunting device whereby to render itinoperative to prevent the inltin g of the apron when the lattercontains no lettcr to receive the impression, while the ma chine inevery particular is operating to postmark and to starnp-canccl lettersby stamps in which the shuntingdcvicc is made inoperative. 'lo renderthis stamp-shunting device inoperative, or, as it were, taken away fromthe stam so as to leave the latter under the free and sole control ofthe continuous stampopcrating mechanism, I provide each stamp proper ofthe series with a plunger device and connect it with oncof the cranks ofsaid rock-shaft. in such a manner as to shunt or turn and hold up thecrank, so that it can have no function, and thereby isolate or take awayfrom the stamp the very device which act to wrest its descent, asstated. This function of the plunger-rod is rendered active by thedescending movemcutof the stamp so as to bring it down under pressureupon the letter to be stamped. In such function of the plunger-rod theletter forms a fixed base to arrest it, and thereby rock the crank-shaftto shunt ontof action its crank-arm. 'lheoffice of this plunger devicetherefore is not to raise ortoprcventitsdesccnt,but,derivingitsfnnctionfrom the rlcsccntof the stampancl bystriking upon the letter, servesonly and solely to shuntout of action the rock-shaftcrankcd dcvice. inthe cooperation of thesetwo stamped devices it will be seen that theyboth depend primarily for their function upon the intermittcnt. actionof the endless apron to all'ord an abutting element to resist. thedownward movements of such devices to render their function operative orinoperative for the purposcstatcd. To etfec' this co-operation,therefore, it is essential that the normal positions of the stamps, thenormal positions of the stamp cranked device, and the normal positionsof the stamp plunger-rod must be out of'thc path of the movement of themail-mattcr-that is to say, above or away from the letter-supportingapron-in orderthat hot it of these devices shall be subject to thecontrol of the stamp itself, in order that one of them will be renderedinoperative by the other, to the curl and sole purpose of preventing theinking of thcnpron. To render the plttugcrrod of any one of the stampsinoperative, I provide the endless apron with openings. preferably byforming separate aprons for each stamp, so as to leave spaces betweenthem which register with the plunger-rods to allow the latterto plungeor pass down freely below the apron and thereby allow the crankirate?arm to descend upon the apron to shunt the stamp out of action whenthere is no letter to receive its impression. It will therefore be seenthat an essential requirement of the action of the stamp and for itsnon-action, for the action of the stamp crank-rod, and for the action ofthe stamp plungcr-rod and for itsnou-action is that the movement of theendless apron must be intermittent, that it must: be without movementwhen the imrensiou is made upon the letter-,thatitmust e withoutmovement to render the crankrod operative to shunt out the action of thestamp when there is no letter in position to receive the impression, andthat it must be without movement to render the plunger-rod operative toshunt out of action the crank-rod of the stamp. These provisions andtheir mode of operation also require that the letter, after being placedto receive the impression of the stamp, must be without movement, at astandstill on its supporting-bed, and that thercforc thcactiou ornon-action of the stamp is not and cannot be effected by the movement ofthe letter upon the apron with it or independent of it.

In the accompanying drawingsl have illustrated, substantially, my saidpatented machine, and prefer to use all the features of my presentinvention and improvements in said organization in total combination, assuch reconstructed machine has been found to be effective and not. easyto get out of order in the expeditious work required for the postalservice.

In the draw lugs, Figure 1 represents in clevation the left side of amachine for postmnrking and canceling letters embracing my invention;Fig. 2, the opposite or right side of the machine. Fig. 3 is a verticallongitndinal section of the machine, showing the pneumatic device in theposition it occupies at the moment of dropping a letter in position uponthe apron to receive the impression of the stamp and the stamping devicein its highest position. Fig. 4 is a similar section of the upper partof the machine, showing the pneumatic device in the position it occupiesat the moment of taking up a letter and the stamping device in positionto make the impression on a letter. Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional viewshowing,' the mechanism for operating the inking-roll and thestamp-carrier. Fig. 6 is a detail top view of the stamp-car ricr,showing its connection with the vertical cnd slides. Fig. 7 is a detailvertical scotional view sh 'nviug the operating connections of thestamp-carrier. Fig. 8 is a top view of thrccof the letter-supportingaprons, showing the open spaces between them and the holes in theirbod-support to allow the stamp plunger-rod to pass below the apron whenits connected stamp is impressing the letter. Fig. J is a horizontalsection of the same, showing the grooves and apron-ribs for maintainingthe separated relation of the aprons. Fig. 10 is a top view of one ofthe letter-supplyingcompartrnents. Fig. 1 Sheet 1, is a detail view ofthe ratchet device for intermittently operating the endless apron. Fig.1" are views of the tappet-shaf t crank-pin and its slotted plateconnection foroperating .the letter-supporting followers. Fig. 2, Sheet2, shows the valved air suction and exhaust cylinder in section; Fig. 4,Sheet 4, is a vertical sectional detail of the ratchet device forfeeding the followers and the letters thereon to the suction take-uptubes. Fig. 4" is a detail sectional view of the suction take-up tube.Fig. 11, Sheet 7, is a side elevation of one of the stamping devices,showing the stamp-box in partial section and the shunting-plunger down.Fig. 12 is a side elevation of the same, showing the shunting-plungerup. Fig. 13 is a partial horizontal section through the type-wheel ofthe stamp, showing the manner of adjustably securing it to thestamp-shank. Fig. 14 shows the stamping and impression made of thestamp. Fig. 15 shows in top view the slotted portion of the stamp-head.Fig. 16 is a vertical cross-section ofthe same on the line :0, and Fig.17 is a similar section on the line 3' of Fig. 15. Fig. 18 is a frontelevation of the stamp, the typewheel being in face view, and a sectionof the endless apron and its supporting-bed, showing the shunting devicein position to shunt the stamp in its descent out of action. Fig.

19 is a similar view showing the type-wheel raised to clear thestamp-head and in position to change its dates; and Fig. 20 is a rearelevation of the stamp, showing the action of the plunger-rod inshunting out of action the stamp-shunting crank device.

The drawings show parts and devices of the said patented machinein thesame relation and which have the saine function as in said patentedmachine, and among which is the row of compartments 1 for supplying thelettors in separate and distinct packages, arranged at the front ot asuitable frame. At the rear of the frame a similar row of compartments 3is provided, which register with the front compartments for receivingthe letters after having been postmarked and their stamp canceled, whilebetween these parts are arranged endless aprons 4, upon which theletters are deposited by the dropping action of the pneumatictransferring device to receive the impressions of the stamps anddelivered into the receiving compartments. These parts are arranged atthe top of the frame in such relation that theiettcrs are lifted fromthe front part, carried to and dropped upon the aprons,and delivered atthe rear, as stated.

The devices for transferring the letters singly from theirsupplying-compartments to the endless aprons and also for postmarkingand canceling are arranged for operation above the frame, and theiroperating mechanisms are arranged and disposed at each end of the frame,while the power-shaft 6 is mounted above the front part of the frame.

I will now describe more particularly these separate mechanisms. Each ofthese lettersupplyiug compartments is provided with a follower 10, uponwhich the letters are'placed in packages and fed upward, and eachfollower has a central sustaining-rod 11, which passes through asuitable guide 12 and is raised with an intermittent feed by mechanismshown in Figs. 3 and t and operated from the power-shaft 5 through theaction of the tappet rock-shaft 24, whereby the letters of the severalpackages are fed upward as each mp letter is removed from the package bythe sucker-tubes. The device for transferring the letters from thesupplying'compartments, in connection with this follower feed, consistsof a bar 29, mounted upon crankarms 28, so as to have a movement in theare of a circle. This cross-bar carries sucker-tubes 30 on its underside in registering relation to the letter-supplying compartments andthe stamps, and they are maintained in vertical position in every partof the circular sweep of the bar by means'of supplemental crankarms 31,which have a parallel relation to the crank-arms 28, as seen in Figs. 3and 4, whereby the suction-tubes are caused to descend vertically totake up the letters, by suction and to hold them and to carry them tothe points where they are dropped by releasing the suction upon theaprons. These suckertubes are provided with suitable valves. 41, whichare opened by contact with the letters to be lifted to render thesuction active. Snitable air suction and exhaust devices are employedtosuck up and hold the letters, so as to close the mouths of thesucker-tubes and to destroy'thevacuum in the latter to drop the lettersat the desired points upon the aprons. In this way and by the meansshown, while all the sucker-tubes are in com munication with the suctionand exhaust devices, each one is rendered independent of the other byits valve, and is thereby made operative in the compartments which maycontain letters.

The letter-supporting endless apron s is mounted upon rolls 61, and at apoint above the rear roll a cross-bar 62, Figs. 5 and 6, is mounted inthe frame and carries the postmarking and canceling stamps, which arevplaced at distances along the length of said bar corresponding to thepositions of the lettor-containing compartments, and this bar isoperated vertically in guides a, Fig. 6, in the end frames to raise andto depress the stamps in unison with the letter-transferring device andthe devices for feeding the letters up in their supply-compartments, asI shall now state. 1

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, it will be seen that the rock-shaft 24,which operates the letter-supporting followers 10, is provided at itsleft end with a short crank-arm 44, (see Figs. 1 and 1",) which standstoward the rear and has a crank-pin 46, which extendsbeyond the outerside of the end frame and into a slot 46 in a plate 47, mounted upon abeartog ing tpon which it oscillates at n point above the rock'shnit.This slot 46 is concentric with the bcurin of thcplnte and terminates ina deflected or oblique end 4.), so that the crank-pin 45 is renderedinactive by the concentric portion of the slot and isenuscd to bedepressed by the deflected end 4! of said slot, whereby it causes theshaft 24 to be rocked, carrying itn tnppets 25-one for eachfollower-innnrd nguinst the nrms 19 of a ratchet device 1'. 18, end thusrelense their engage ment from the ratchet-wheels 17, the function ofwhich and the toothed wheel 16 is to hold the followers, and thus allowthe followers to rise by the action of Weights 25! at the momcnt thetransferring device is at the limit of its descent to take the lettersup. In ordcr that this movement of the transferring device shall be inunison with the seizing action of the-suckcr-tubesl provide the saidslotted plate 47 with it. sh rt crank-arm 50 at its pivot-bearing, whicharm by n pitmnn 51 connects with the front end of a lever 52, mounted ona bearing of the frame. This end of the lever also connects by the rodoil with acmnkpin 53 on the face of n. gear 5, mounted on a stud of theframe. The other end of this lever 52 has n pin 53', which engages nsegmental slot Si in the face of n gear-wheel 55 and has an obliquerelation to thcaxis of said ecu-r. Engaging with this gear 55 ise pinion56 on the end of the ernnknrm 28, which carries the cross-bar 2.) of thesucker-tubes. As the lever 52 is vibrated the action of its pin ,53'within the segmental slot 54. of the gent causes the latter to movethrough a determined portion of a. revolution alternately w ith nmovement each way sutiicient to give a halfevolution of saidcrank-pinion 56 and thereby control with precision and cxactnessthesweep of the transferring device to take up and deposit the letters inposition for postmnrking and canceling. In this operation the upwardmovement of the frontnrm of the lever 52 opcrates the said gear-slotdito effect the frontwnrd sweep of the transferring device, while thedownward movement of the said lever 0perntesin the said gear-slot toreverse the gear and effect the rem-ward sweeping movement of thetransferring device. in this movement the gennslotfi-t' also serves thepurpose of retarding the movement of the transferring deviccnt itstaking-up and depositing point, as stated in my said patent. A train ofgear (seen in Fig. 1) connects the follow-ens and the lettertrunsmittingdevices with an inkingnroll 0, the endless apron 4, and thesinmpenrrying device for conjoint operation, as I will now describe.

Referring to Fig.1,h is rigour-wheel, which carries the crank-pin 52;,that connects with and operates the tippet-crnnlr shaft. 34, and alsoconnects iii. and operates the pinions 56, which are on the crztnk-nrms2a, whi h carry and operate the letter-trimsfcrring device. 'lhisgear-wheel b engages it gear-wheel c, which hitter engages rt pinion "Ion the were? b er-shaft (i, and by means of the intermedinto pinions andf and :t gcnrwvhcel g, which engages a pinion hon the shaft of theinking-cylinder 1', the latter is operated from the power-shaft. Apilmnu-rod connects the gear-wheel c with a lever t), which connectswith and intermittently operates the endless aprons by means of nratchet device, which I will presently dcscribc.

The trnin of gear which I have described givesn positive motion totlteshaft whichcnrrice the inking-roll i forward beneath the stamps when thelatter are raised, and this movement is effected as follows: Theinkingroll shaft 89 is jOlll'IltLltNl in the lower ends of hanging,armsj, which are pivoted on the inner walls of the end frame, so thatthe said roll is free to be swung backward in contact with theinking-cylinder t' and frontward under and in contact with the stamps,as I shall presently describe.

'lhe stamps are suitably mounted on and carried by :1. horizontalcross-hm- 62, which is provided at each end with :1. vertical slideplateis, adapted to tit and move between the gnidewnys a, secured on theinner walls of the end frames, as seen in Figs. 0 and 7, whereby a truevertical movement is given to the stmnps, as I will now state. Arock-shaft I, mounted in the end frames, has an arm '77 thereon, (seenin Fig. 6 and in dotted lines in Fig. 7,) which by means of a crank-pin7G thereon stands and works in n slot in a. plate-bar 73, which isfitted to slide in ways 7-l= on the outer-side of the right end frame.This slide 73 is connected by a rod 72 with a crankpin 71 on a. gear 70,which engages with and is driven bynpiniondon the power'drivcn shaft,which has the pinion d on its other end, so that the-reciprocatingmotion thus imparted to the slide is transmitted to the slum p-carryingbar 62, as I will now state. On the rockshaft Z, which is operated bythis slotted slidebnr 73, there is an arm in at. ench end just on theinner side of the end frames, standing inward and connected at theirinner ends to thelower ends of links it, each of which is pivoted to theslides 7; of the said stomp-carrying bar 62, so that the rockingmovement of the said slmft I will vibrate the arms in, and thus raiseand o\\'cr the slides in to operate the stnmp-cnrrying bar in the wilystntothi Looking at Fig. i. it will be soon that the slot '75 of theslide-bar 7 5 is somewhat L-shnped, so as to have the function of it cnmwhich as the slide is caused to move forward with the cranlopin 76 intho frontwnrd horizontal portion of said slot the rockshnft I will hewithout motion and the stnmp-em'rying bnr will be held in elcvntcdposition; butthoinomont tho crnnlrpin 7 nters the rear inclined or "ampart of the slot. 7:) thccritnlt-nrm 77 will be dcprcsnetl nnd the shaftZ rocked, bringing down the slittntrm'trnviilg lint to impress theletters. It ill be nndcrstnod that in this position of the stamps and atthis insiztnt the transferring lCVltjtis in position to seize and ofsaid slotted slide, which causes the return rotation of said rock-shaftI, which brings the stamps again to their normal elevated position outof the way of thetransferring device. It will also be understood that atthe moment of depositing and at the moment of impressing the letters theendless aprons are without movement and that they have a suitablecross-bed support in the line of the action of the stamps. lt \rillalsobe understood that the letters which have received the action of thestamps are carried rearward by the apronsand delivered into thereceiving-compartments 3 in the same arrangement in which they wereplaced in the supplyirig-compartmcnts.

l have stated that the inking-roll 80 is suspended so as to be swungunder and in cott- {act with the sta mps,and by referring to Figs. 3 and4 it will be seen that the inking-cylindcrt is mounted in the tram. atthe rearof the inking-roll S9 and that the latter is mountedinspring-sustained hearings or boxes titted in guides in the lower endsof the suspendinghangersj. A horizontal rider or bearer u is lixed toeach end frame at its inner side, and against the under sides of whichthe inkinglOlll'itlCt, and the stamp-carrying bar has at each end adepending rider or bearer 0', which in the highest position of thestampcarrying bararc brought in .t egistcring relation to the fixedriders, as in Fig. 3, so that the two riders o n at each side of theframe form the ways on which the inking-roll is carried under the seriesof stamps to ink them in a horizontal plane permitted by the yielding ofits springsustained bearings. The mechanism for opcrating the inkingrollconsists of slotted slides 1), one fitted in a guide (1, secured to theinncrsidcof each end frame and connected by a slotted end q with a pin7' on each of the swinging hangersj, the other end of slotted slide 1)being connected by a pin r with a cam-groove 1 on the face of agearavhecl 2", mounted on a stud at the inner side of each end frame,whichengages with a pinion s on each end of the shaft of the inkcylinderi, as seen in Fig. 5. The ink cylinder '5 is operated by the pinion h,which engages with the train of gear connecting the power-shaft, as seeninFig. l; and the movements of the slotted slides p of the inkingdevices are so timed as to carry the inking-roll under and away from thestamp: while they are at rest in their highest position. During themovements of the stamps the inking-roll is swung back in contact withthe inking-cylinder, which, constantly revolving, rotates theinking-roll tokeep itinked. The inking-cylinder is covered with suitablefelt forholdiug the ink, and the inking-roll is provided with separatesleeves covered with felt for inking the stamps, and these feltedsleeves are arranged to register with said stamps.

'lhc intermittent movement of the apron may be effected by anysuitablcmeans. 'lhttt shown consists ot' the power-shaft, connectinggear, (I c,the rod 79 and the gear 1, and a ratchet-wired 8; on the gear til, whichlatter is mounted loosely on a stud, so that a pawl 53 on the armSttc'ngaging said ratchet-wheel 22, turns the gear 81 intermittently,and this turns the pinion 84 on the roll 01 intermittently, and thusmoves the aprons at the time stated. In this arrangement it is necessaryto give the proper movement to the aprons that the pawl 8;; shall act onthe ratchet 82 only as allowed by a shield'plate t, arranged topartially cover the teeth ot' the ratchet, as

seen in Fig. 1.

I will now describe the construction of the stamps and the provisionswhereby any one or more of them are shunted out of action withoutinterrupting the action of the others or of the operation of themachine. The stamps are of identical constructiomaml the stamping partproper is composed of two partsa horizontal stamp-head A, which carriesface letters and type, and a vertical wheel 1;, which carries radialtype. The stamphead has engraved on its under face the lettersindicating the location or place of mailing-and the stamp-cancelinglines making the impression, as seen in Fig. 14, and it has two parallelslots, within one of which are fit.- ted type for printing the month andday.

The type a, Fig. 16, are of dovetail form and are held in the dovetailseats of the slot by a removable cap plate r to give convenience forremoving and for changing them, which can be done quickly by removingthe said cap plate-and using a pick in an inclined hole in the upper endof the type,asseeu in Figs. 1; and 17. This stampdiead has a centralshank standing at right angles, which has its upper cud fitted withinabore of the box D and is retained therein by a shoulder E, Fig. 11, onits upper end, which shoulder also serves to limit the downward movementof the stamp within its box against the force of a spring 1', inclosedwithin said box D, and against which spring force the stampingdevicets-pcrmittod to yield in stamping the letters. A side feather n,Fig. 30, prevents the turning of the stamp-shank within the box. \Vithinthe other head-slot .I' operate the type-arms G of disks which indicatethe time of the day, and to obtain the proper indication of thcdivisionof the time to denote any hour or halfhour I use three independent disksII, which I calltime-whcels. 'lhesc disksareloosoly mounted on a. studl, which is secured to the side of the stamp-shank C between its head Aand the box 13, so as to be vertically movable for adjustment thereon. Aconvenientmcans for securing this stud I to the stamp-shank is shown inFig. 13, and consists in making a. dovetail recess 1/ on the inner endof the stud and fitting itover a dovetail rib or projection g on a tintpart of the stamp-shank C and clamping the said stud to this dovetailrib by n thumb-screw J, pnseinn ccntrnlly through n. thrended bore inthe stud I, so its to bear against the stamp-shank in a recess Z, Figs,ll and 13, to permit the stud I to he set. higher or lower for n.purpose which I shall presently :t'tnte. The time wheels ll nrc piecedside by nide on the stud between two disks ll, which are fastened to theletter by ncrews, and the typec nre formed upon the ends ofcircumferential redial arms G, of which the outer wheel has twelve,containing numbers from l to 12, inclusive, to indicate the hours of theday. 'lheinnerwheel has three type-arms hearing the'divisicns of thedny, A. Mt, P. hi, and M.," whilethe intermediate type-wheel hasthennmber30 to in dicnte the half-hour. Each of these typewheels hnsarecess on its vert icel face to recei vc a pnwl h and a spring h,bearing upon the pawl, Fig. 18, while the stud-hub I has twelvecircumferential grooves t of V shape, into which the pawl of each tywheel is held by the spring when the whee is properly net, as in Fig.18. This construction allows the type wheels to be easily and quicklyset for use, and when so set,as in Figs. 11, 12, and 18, the type-arms Gextend down through the blot a. with their type-feces on n level withthe engruved letters of thestamp-head,and the stud is clamped to thestump-shank by the handecrew, the point of which is conical and entersthe lower one of two recesses z in the dovetail rib, as seen in dottedlines in Figs. 11 nnd 19. To change the typewhceln, the stud l inunclumped nnd raised so that the hnnd-ncrew J will enter the upperreceesz to hold the type-wheels up free of the slot :1: in the smmp'head tonllow the wheels to be turned to change the dnyorthetime, or both, onceen in Fig 10, after which the stud is again-net down and clamped tothe stamp nhnnk. This mounting of the type-wheels upon n. sliding studgives the advantage of conveniently handling them to make the requiredchanges and providesnfirni fastening to the shank of the stamp to resistthe thrust upon the type-arms. The type-wheels are free to he turnedupon the stud, and when so turned they ore held by the engagement of thespring'pewl h with the grooves 1 ot the stud-huh. It will be seen thatthe cap-plate for the stnmphead slots has a slot 12. corresponding withthe slot or mortise :c, through which the type-arms Gpass, and thecnpplatc may be locked, if desired.

In the machine the stamps are arranged in registering relation to theletter-supplying compnrtmcnte 1, and as these compartments may all oronly some of them be in use in supplying letters at the same ti me tothe transferring device I find it necessary to make the stampindependent in its stamping function of the movement of itscarrying-bar, so that, although all the stamps may be operated alike,those having the letters supplied to them will be shunted out of actionto prevent such stamps from striking the apron 4 and inking it. For thispurpose I provide the shank of each ntnmp with it shunting device, nofollows: A horizontal bore is mnde iii the ehnnlr of each fstnnipbetween itoeianipdicnd and the end of its containing-box to receive itrockehnft ll, hnving on one end ittlepcntlingcrnnkurn: L. long enough toextend below thostuinphend A, and on the other end a shorter nrni letnndintr at about right angles and fortning it double-crankedrock-shaft.

A bracket M on the stamp-head supporten vertical barrel or tube N atthat side of the stamp-shank at which the short-crnnk-nrm I stands, andinto this tube at plunger'rod P is titled and retained by n. shoulder P,Fig. 11, which limits its descent at a. point below the stamp-heed. Theupper end of this plungerrod is connected by a. pin 10, Figs. 11 and 20,and slot 1. with the short crank-urn: L, and is spring p constantlytends to depress the plunger-rod P, and the spring force so exerted actsthrough the pin and slotted crank-arm L to maintain the ong crnnlc-nrinL in a vertical position, as soon in Figs. 11, 18, and 19, so that thislong crnuk-nrm L and the plunger-rod P will both stand below the face ofthe stamp. 'lhe bnrrel or tube N has a slot through which the pin p ofthe plungerrod extends to permit the vertical movement of theplunger-rod to operate the roclc shntft through its slotted arm.

I prefer to provide each stmnp with n separate endless npron, so an toplace them apart to leave a. space 42, Fig. 8, between their edges inregistering relntion with the plunger-rods, no that the lntter willdescend without hindrance below the apron when no letter has beensupplied to receive theimpression of the stamp, as seen in Fig. 18. Inthis event the crnnlc-nrm L will be brought down with the stamp and willstrike upon the apron 4, and thus arrest the further descent of thestamp C and prevent it from coming into contact with and inking theapron. In time arresting the descent of this stamp the etnmp-carrier 62,however, is allowed by the spring F in the stamp box to continue itsfull downward movement, so as not to interfere with the stampingfunction of the other stamps to which letters may have been supplied. Inthis way the crank-arm L serves to shunt the stamp C out of action whenit is descending, and in such function of the shunting crank-arm theapron 4 serves as n fixed base or abutment. hen, however, a letter is inplace to receive the impression of the stamp, this crank-arm L must notbe in position to act on a shunt upon the stamp, and for this purpose Iprovide mennswhercbythis crankurm is shunted outof action. Thieiseffected by the plunger-rod P, which, descending with the stump, strikesdirectly upon the letter Q, which latter thus arrests the furtherdescent of the plunger, (see Fig. 20,) because the letter Q stands as acover for the opening t in the apron 4, while the stamp, continuing todescend, causes the long cranked arm L to be lit) turned to one sideoutof the way of the stamp, so that it is free to act-,nssccn in l igs.l2 and "3H.

1 is produced by its pin connection p with the short slotted crank-armL, which is turned upward, and, rocking the shaft, also turns its lonr'crauk-iirin l. up to raise it above the stamp. As both these shuntingdevices are carried directly by the stamp, they move with it and areonly brought. into action by its descent upon the apron in one case andupon the letter in the other case and at a time when both the apron andthe letter are without movement. Otherwise both the apron and the letterwould be constantly liable to be cut and torn. I provide for holding theseparate aprons in parallel relation by means oi one or more ribs 4fastened on the under side of each apron, and grooving the rolls toreceive these ribs, as shown in Figs. 8 and a. I also provide thecross-bed 85, which supports the aprons under the action of the stamps,with holes 4"", which register with the spaces 4 between the aprons 4toperinit the plungerrods 1 to pass down between the aprons, as seen inFig. 18.

The supply-compartments l being filled with letters and the machinestarted, the pneumatic device brings its sucker-tubes down upon theletters, wliiclropen their valves 41,

and are seized and held thereto by suctiom Then rising, the devicecarries the letteis over to the rear and drops them upon the endlessaprons, as seen in Fig. 8, and instantly rcturns to repeat the seizingofletters. During this return movement the stamp-carrying bar is in itshighest position, as seen in Fig. 5, and the inking-roll 89 is caused tomove forward to ink the stamp-faces and to move back out of the way. Thestamp-carrying bar 02 at once descends to effect the requiredimpressions of the stamps upon the letters. During the interval betweenthe deposit of theletters and the making of the impressions thereon theendless aprons are at rest. The letters having received the impressionsof'thc stamps, the latter immediately rise and the endless aprons 4 aremoved forward to carry the letters to the recciving-compartments.

The release or dropping of the letters by the sucker-tubes 30 iseffected by the reverse stroke of the piston R of the air-cylinder Racting to destroy the vacuum in the suckertubes, as seen in Figs. 2 and2.

The suction device consists of a cylinder R having a piston R and valveR and connected to the sucker-bar UllbOS 30 by a flexible hose S andpipe 8*, which communicate by suitable channels S Fig. 4, with all theSULkGT'lUbG-S, each one of which is provided with a valve 41, arrangedto cut oif the suction should there be no letter in thesupplycompartincnt. The ascent of the piston R produces a vacuum in thesucker-tubes 30 when they are brought in contact with the letters, andthis vacuum is maintained while 'thc sucker-tubes are transferring theletters This shunting action of tho plunger-rod and is destroyed at themoment the transferring dcvico reaches the point to drop the lottcrs bythe reverse stroke of the piston it, which opens the valve '11 to admitthe air.

The working of the machine is expeditious and is equally edective inhandling long, short, and thick and thin letters without adjustment, andone person can supply a machine having six letter-supplyingcompartmerits.

As the pressure of the sucker-tubes upon the letters has been found togive the package an outward movement upon the follower, I provide thesurface with rubber strips 10', placed in oblique rclation,so as to formholds for the bottom letter of the package, and thus prevent it fromslipping; or moving out. (Shown in Fig. i0.)

Having thus described astructu re embodying in preferred form all theseveral features of myinvcutiou in combination,whatlclaim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a postmarking and stamp-canceling machine, the combination, with asuitable yielding impressing-stamp and an intermittontly-operatingendless apron, a rock-shaft mounted in the stamp-shank,having a crankarmon each end, and a yielding plunger-rod connected to one of saidcrank-arms, for operation substantially as described.

2. In a postinarking and stamp-canceling machine, the combination, witha suitable yielding impressing-stamp and an intermittently-operatingendless apron, a lO0l(-Sllll-fl) mounted in thestaiiip-sliank,liavingacrankarm on each end at about right angles to each other, one of saidcrank-arms having a slot, and a yielding plunger-rod connected by a pinin the said slot, one of said crank-arms and the plunger-rod having alength suliicient to extend below the impressing-surface, for operationsubstantially as described.

3. In a postmarking and stamp-canceling machine, the combination, withan impressing-stamp, a carrying-box therefor, and a spring upon saidstamp,and an iutorinittently operating endless apron, arock-sliaftmounted in the stamp-shank, having a. crank-arm on each end, aplunger-rod connected to one of said crank-arms, a tube or barrelcontaining said plunger-rod, and a spring within said barrel upon saidplunger-rod, for operation substantially as described.

4. In a postmarking and stamp-canoeling device, a stamp having aspring-sustained shank part C, provided with a slotted impressing-hcadand a vertical side dovetail rib y, in combination with the horizontalstud or hub I, having an end recess 3 for engaging said shank-rib, anarmed type-wheel upon said stud or hub, and a screw centrally engagingsaid stud against said shank-rib, substantially as described.

5. In a postmarking and canceling stamp, it stamping device having aspring-sustainoil impressing part, the head A whereof has two parallelslots, one of which is of dovetail crosssection. type l ofcnrrcspoinling form to said slot seated therein and hrn'ing' inclinedholes in their lztllli ends. in combination with an armed Zype-whcclnrmngt-d t opernte within the other slot of ranid brad, whereby the typeis The month rind the day mat be easily lttitl quickly changed in saidhead.

6. in n posinmrltingi nnd stnmp-cnncclinn machine, the combination, withn, suitnble y elding itnpressiiigslnmp, of a rock-shnft mounted in thestnmpshnnk, having it cranknrm on each end, a plunger-rod connected toone of said crnnk-arn1s,amlnn intermittentlyopernting endless npronhaving an opening registering with said plunger-rod, for Opltittion inthe way described.

'7. In It postinnrltim: and stnmpcnnceling machine. it. stomping deviceconsisting of n. horizontal cross-bar having a series ofvortically-yioldinr: iinpressing-stamps, each contnintngnhorizontalrot2l-nlmftb:t\'ingacraokarm on each end, and n yielding plungenrodconnected to each one of said crank-arms, intermittently-operiitingendless aprons corre sponding with said stamps; and having openingsregisteri ng with said plunger-rods, lettersupplying compartmentsregistering with said aprons and stamps, an intermittently-operatingpneumatic letter-transferring device, and suitable mechanism foroperating the stampcnrrying bar in unison with the movements of theaprons and oftbe said transferrin device, for operation substantially asdescri ed.

8. In a postmnrlting and stamp-canceling machine, the combination, witha. suitable yielding impressingstnmp and an intermittently-operntinnendless npron, ll. horizontal roek-nhnft mounted in bearings in thestamp shank, having; 2. crank-urn". carried in relation to said npron tobe brought into contact therewith bythe descent of the stamp to shuntthe latter out of notion when descending, in the way and for the purposedescribed.

9. In H. machine forpostnntrhing mail-mob ter nndcnncoling thepostage-stomps thereon, the combination of interniittently-operntingenlesn aprons, n c erics oi lettcnsupply compnrtinentn, and onintermittently-operntod letter-transferring dcvioe,with a horizontalcross bar having verticallyclepending impressing-stomps, 'rerticnlslides connecting the ends of said bar with the end Frames, 2.rocloshai't hnvinp slotted arms connecting said slides, and suimblemechanism loroperatlilflfirtlli rock-shaft.substantially as described.

i in ll, posimnrking and stamp-canceling mitrhino, the combination ofintermittentlyopcrnting" endless aprons, n. series of lettersuppijiingcompartments, and an intermit- Q lY-operntcd iettor-transferring device,with :1 horizontal cross-bar having verticallydepcnding impressingstetmps, vertical Slides connecting said bnr with the and frames, isrock-shaft having slotted arms connecting said slides, it sprinsustained inking-roll, horizontal riders or bearers for guiding theinking-roll under the smmpn, and suitable mechanism for opernti in; mildinking-roll find the stamp-carrying bnr, substantially as described.

ii. In a posinntrhiinz nnd stmnpwnncoling machine, the combination ofintermittentlyopcmting endless nprone, n series of lettersupplyingc'nnpnrtrnents, and tin intermittent y operated letter transferringdevice, with n verlicnlly-operntod stnmpcarryint: bar having verticalend slides and horizontal riders or bearers registering with horizontalriders or bearers having, fixed relation to the end frames, 3 spring-zsustained inking -roll adapted to move horizontally under said riderswhen in registering rclntiomnnri mechanism for operating said inkingnolland the said stump-carrying bar, substantially an de" scribed.

12. In a postmzirking and stamp-annealing machine, the combination ofintermittentlyoperating endless aprons and intermittentlyoperntingletter-transferring devices having or circular movement over saidaprons, n. vertically-reel procnting: stnmpcnrrier, n.horizontnlly-reciproct'tting inking-roll, concting titted nnd movablerider ports for said roll, nod suitnblo nutomnticnlUwvpcrnied mechanismor conjointly operating them in the way doscribed.

In testimony whereof lrtilix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM GRO'IH.

Witnesses:

WILL T. Nonrorz, C. H. Moiiwnn.

